For five years the HFPA Global Residency program has been bringing emerging filmmakers from around the world to Hollywood and fulfilling the HFPA’s mission as ambassadors between the American film industry and world cinema by partnering with some of the world’s premiere film festivals. This year once again the Residency endeavored to give participating fellows a first-hand glimpse of American independent filmmaking.

Of course, the six young directors who took part in a three-week intensive program of workshops and master classes sponsored by the HFPA and designed by Film Independent, already had more than a passing notion of what it takes to make a movie, each one having written and directed at least one feature (and in three of those cases starred in it as well).

Four filmmakers hailed from the Venice International Film Festival’s Biennale College. The program does not simply workshop scripts or produce shorts like other “labs,” but instead every year sets in motion four complete feature films which are screened at the following year’s festival. The brainchild of Venice artistic director Alberto Barbera and managed by program head Savina Neirotti, Biennale College is truly a complete cycle mentoring machine, it requires four first-time directors, selected from over 200 applications from around the world to take their idea from concept to its debut screening – in 10 months’ time. The Biennale supplies the 150.000 euro budget (200.000 starting next year) as well as a faculty of international industry professionals serving as mentors in their areas of expertise. For the past several years HFPA has been honored to offer Biennale College an appendix of sorts in Los Angeles.

The Residency program designed and overseen by Film Independent’s Maria Bozzi and her team (Jeremy Aguilera-Gaudette and Sue-Ellen Chitunya), consisted of an intensive schedule of sessions focusing on both the business and creative aspects of independent filmmaking, with multiple networking opportunities, cultural engagement activities, workshops, field trips, master classes, one-on-one mentoring.

As part of the program, fellows also screened their films in LA to share their work with industry professionals and the broader film community. By design, the Residency allows for the flexibility to tailor the program to each filmmaker’s individual needs and interests. 

Now that circumstances allowed it, the Residency once again began with the fellows attending the Golden Globes viewing party, what better way after all to get a sense of Hollywood with most of it gathered in one ballroom. Fellows did not neglect the after party and in particular the dance floor, strategically placed next to the Globes engraving station, where winners picked up their customized statuettes. Another festive occasion was the traditional Residency reception gracefully hosted by Film Independent president Todd Welsh, an invaluable exercise in the “Hollywood schmooze” and all jokes aside, another opportunity for fellows to network.

The six “graduates” of this year’s HFPA Residency were Biennale College alums Tahmina Raffaella (Azerbaijan), Monica Dugo (Italy), Eldar Shibanov (Kazakhstan) and Hanna Västinsalo (Finland). They were joined by South African filmmaker Phumelele Mthembu and Syrian director Soudade Kaadan. To each, we extend our congratulations and our best wishes for their budding careers. We hope to cross paths again soon!